Hot isostatic pressing apparatus

Abstract

A treatment chamber for heating and pressing workpieces and a heat insulating structure which covers the treatment chamber sideways and from above are provided within a high-pressure vessel. Below the treatment chamber are disposed a base heater for heating a pressure medium gas and a fan for supplying the pressure medium gas in a heated state into the treatment chamber and stirring the heated gas. The workpieces can be held on the heat insulating structure side, and the heat insulating structure and the workpieces can be taken out from the interior of the high-pressure vessel and can be conveyed together separately from a lower lid of the high-pressure vessel. A hot isostatic pressing apparatus is provided less expensively which can heat and press workpieces at a relatively low temperature of not higher than 600° C. Besides, it is possible to shorten the cycle time in HIP.

1. A hot isostatic pressing apparatus for subjecting workpieces to hot isostatic pressing with use of a pressure medium gas, said apparatus comprising:
 a high-pressure vessel having a lower end opening and a removable lower lid, which can close said lower end opening; 
 a treatment chamber provided within said high-pressure vessel to heat and press workpieces; 
 a heat insulating structure which covers said treatment chamber sideways and from above, wherein said heat insulating structure is movable independently of said lower lid; 
 a workpiece support mounted to said heat insulating structure so as to move with said heat insulating structure and independently of said lower lid; 
 a base heater disposed below said treatment chamber to heat a pressure medium gas; and 
 a fan disposed below said treatment chamber to supply the pressure medium gas in a heated state into the treatment chamber; wherein said heat insulating structure and workpieces can be taken out together from said high-pressure vessel and can be conveyed together separately from said lower lid. 
 
   
   
     2. The hot isostatic pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base heater and said fan are fixed to said lower lid, further comprising a station disposed in the exterior of said high-pressure vessel, wherein said base heater and said fan are fixed to said lower lid and wherein said station includes another heater and another fan having substantially the same functions as said base heater and said fan. 
   
   
     3. The hot isostatic pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a station disposed exterior to said high-pressure vessel, wherein said base heater and said fan are removably mounted to said lower lid, whereby said base heater and said fan can be taken out from the interior of said high-pressure vessel and conveyed together with said heat insulating structure and the workpieces. 
   
   
     4. The hot isostatic pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower lid is movable vertically, and in a descended state of said lower lid said heat insulating structure can be removably mounted to said lower lid. 
   
   
     5. The hot isostatic pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upper lid mounted to close an upper-end opening of said high-pressure vessel. 
   
   
     6. The hot isostatic pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water quenching station including a water tank.